Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 This institution is named as China Federation of Internet Societies (CFIS, 中网联).
Article 2 The Federation is a national, joint, and hub-type non-profit social organization voluntarily formed by civil society organizations and relevant institutions in the Cybersecurity and Informatization.
Article 3 The Federation adheres to the guidance of the Secretary General, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, in particular, his important thoughts on network power, deeply understanding the decisive significance of the “Two Establishes,” keep firmly in mind the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, uphold the leadership core, and keep in alignment, and have full confidence in the socialist path, theories, system, and culture with Chinese characteristics, and achieve the “Two Upholds.” Under the leadership of the CPC (the Communist Party of China) and the Chinese government, the Federation is actively acting as a bridge to mobilize social resources, drive the development of Internet Civil Societies, gather the power of Internet Civil Societies, strengthen the role of Internet Civil Societies, and guide Internet Civil Societies to learn from each other and build self-efficacy, which can help increase the overall work productivity.
The Federation abides by the Constitution, laws, regulations, and national policies, practices the core socialist values, promotes the spirit of patriotism, follows social ethics, and consciously strengthens the construction of integrity and discipline.
Article 4 The Federation adheres to the comprehensive leadership of the CPC and establishes an organization of the CPC as required by the Constitution of the CPC, carries out Party activities, and provides necessary conditions for the activities of the CPC’s organization.
Article 5 The Federation accepts the professional guidance, supervision, and management from competent business units, such as Cyberspace Administration of China, and the civil affairs department of the registration management authority.
Article 6 The Federation’s domicile is located in Beijing.
Chapter II Scope of Business
Article 7 The scope of business of the Federation includes:
1. Organizing Internet Civil Societies and relevant institutions to carefully learn, publicize, and implement the CPC’s and China’s policies, as well as relevant laws and regulations;
2. Demonstrating and leading member organizations to strengthen Party building, promoting Internet social organizations to improve Party organization coverage and Party work coverage, and enhancing the political and organizational functions of Party organizations.
3. Conducting research on hotspot issues, major problems and difficult issues in the development of Cybersecurity and Informatization undertakings, issuing statistical data and research reports, and providing policy recommendations to the Party and relevant government departments, while offering information services to relevant institutions;
4. Strengthening positive online publicity, actively voicing opinions, and spreading positive energy on the Internet;
5. Establishing a platform for communication and cooperation, and promoting and expanding communication and cooperation between Internet Civil Societies, relevant institutions, and other aspects of society;
6. With approval from relevant government departments, coordinating and organizing the formulation of group standards in the Cybersecurity and Informatization, participating in the formulation and revision of national and industry standards, promoting the implementation of standards and the development of industry norms;
7. Organizing professional trainings on laws and regulations, management, and technology, organizing industry exchanges, and with approval from relevant government departments or as entrusted by such departments, carrying out vocational skills assessment to improve the overall quality of industry practitioners;
8. Carrying out work related to industry self-discipline, constructing a self-discipline system for the Cybersecurity and Informatization industry, promoting enterprises in the Cybersecurity and Informatization industry to actively fulfill their social responsibilities, and, under the guidelines of the competent business units, carrying out assessment of duties of the Internet Civil Societies, and Cybersecurity and Informatization enterprises on a regular basis;
9. Participating in comprehensive governance of the network, promoting the innovation of the governance mode, establishing and improving the mechanism and platform for Internet societies and relevant institutions to carry out social work both online and offline;
10. Strengthening the work of discovering, cultivating, recommending, using, and liaising with Cybersecurity and Informatization talents;
11. Organizing international exchanges and cooperation in the Cybersecurity and Informatization. With approval from relevant government departments or as entrusted by relevant authorities, participating in the formulation of international rules and standards in Cybersecurity and Informatization, and carrying out civil exchanges with Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan in the field.
12. As entrusted by relevant government departments, strengthening supervision, management, and operational guidance of relevant Internet Civil Societies;
13. Organizing and coordinating Internet Civil Societies and relevant institutions to actively participate in public welfare activities such as building Internet credibility and rural revitalization;
14. Undertaking other matters entrusted by government departments, members, and other institutions that align with the purpose of the Federation.
Matters that fall within the scope of laws, regulations, or other requirements that require approval shall be carried out only after receiving the necessary legal approval.
Chapter III Membership
Article 8 The members of the Federation include organization members and individual members.
Article 9 Applicants wishing to join the Federation must meet the following conditions:
1. A willingness to join the Federation;
2. Supporting the Constitution of the Federation and observing its relevant regulations, self-discipline standards, and conventions;
3. Organizational members must be Internet social organizations or related institutions that are legally established and have a certain level of influence in the Federation's business field;
4. Individual members must be experts, scholars, or other relevant individuals who have influence and recognition in the Federation's business field.
Article 10 The procedure for membership is as follows:
1. Relevant social organizations, institutions, or individuals that meet the membership conditions must submit an application to join the Federation;
2. The application will be discussed and approved by the Council or the Executive Council;
3. A membership card will be issued by the Council or its authorized agency.
Article 11 Members enjoy the following rights:
1. The right to elect, be elected, and vote in the Federation;
2. The right to participate in the Federation’s activities;
3. The right to priority of services provided by the Federation;
4. The right to suggest and supervise the Federation’s work;
5. The right to join or leave the Federation freely;
6. Any other rights specified under this Charter.
Article 12 Members have the following obligations:
1. Complying with the Federation’s Charter and implementing its resolutions;
2. Protecting the reputation and legal rights of the Federation;
3. Completing the tasks assigned by the Federation;
4. Paying membership fees as required;
5. Actively participating in the activities organized by the Federation.
Article 13 Members wishing to waive the membership of the Federation shall notify the Federation in writing and return their membership card. Any member who fails to pay the membership fee within one year or fails to participate in any activities of the Federation within two consecutive years shall be deemed to a waiver of the membership of the Federation.
Article 14 If a member commits serious violations of the laws or the Charter, they may be expelled by a vote of the Council or the Executive Council.
Chapter IV The formation and dismissal of organizational structures and persons in charge.
Article 15 The highest authority of the Federation is the Members Representative Assembly. The powers of the Members Representative Assembly are as follows:
1. Formulating and amending the Charter of Federation;
2. Electing and removing the directors and supervisors;
3. Reviewing the work report and financial report of the Council;
4. Reviewing the work report of the Supervisors;
5. Formulating and amending the membership fee standards;
6. Deciding on relevant termination matters;
7. Deciding on other major matters.
Article 16 The Members Representative Assembly shall be convened only if more than two-thirds (2/3) of the member representatives are present, and its resolutions shall take effect only if approved by a majority of the member representatives present.
Article 17 The term of each Members Representative Assembly is five years. If it is necessary to request an early termination or deferment of the term under special circumstances, it must be voted in favor of such request and passed by the Council, submitted to the competent business unit for review, and approved by the registration and management authority for civil society organizations. Such term extension shall not exceed one year.
Article 18 The Council is the executive body of the Members Representative Assembly, which leads the daily work of the Federation and is accountable to the Representative Assembly during the intervals between the Representative Assembly meetings.
The Council consists of a President, several Vice Presidents, and a Secretary General.
Article 19 The power of the Council:
1. Executing any resolutions of the Member Representative Assembly;
2. Electing and dismissing the President, Vice Presidents, Secretary-General, and Executive Director;
3. Based on the authorization of the Representative Assembly, electing and removing a portion of the Directors during the term, with the number not exceeding one-fifth (1/5) of the original total number of Directors;
4. Preparing for the convening of the Member Representative Assembly;
5. Reporting on the work and financial status to the Members Representative Assembly;
6. Deciding on the adding and delisting of members;
7. Deciding on the establishment, modification, or termination of administrative offices, branch offices, representative offices, and affiliated entities;
8. Deciding on the appointment of Vice Secretary-General and key leaders of various institutions;
9. Leading the work of various institutions of the Federation;
10. Formulating internal management systems;
11. Deciding on other major matters.
Article 20 The Council shall be convened only if more than two-thirds (2/3) of the directors are present. Its resolutions shall take effect only if approved by more than two-thirds (2/3) of the directors present.
Article 21 The Council shall hold at least one meeting per year. In special circumstances, meetings may be held in the form of communication.
Article 22 The Federation shall establish an Executive Council, consisting of no more than one-third of the total number of directors. The Executive Council is elected by the Council and exercises the powers listed in paragraphs 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Article 19, during the intervals between Board meetings. The Executive Council is accountable to the Council.
Article 23 The Executive Council shall be convened only if more than two-thirds (2/3) of the executive directors are present. Its resolutions shall take effect only if approved by more than two-thirds (2/3) of the executive directors present.
Article 24 The Executive Council shall meet at least once every six months. In special circumstances, meetings may also be held in the form of communication.
Article 25 The President, Vice Presidents, and Secretary-General of the Federation must meet the following conditions:
1. Follow the the national direction, principles, and policies, with strong political qualities;
2. Having significant influence in the business field of the Federation;
3. The maximum age for holding office is no more than 70 years old, and the Secretary-General must be a full-time position;
4. Shall Be fit to carry out assigned activities on a daily basis;
5. Having not been subject to criminal punishment depriving of political rights;
6. Possessing full civil capacity for civil conduct.
Article 26 If the President, Vice Presidents, or Secretary-General of the Federation exceed the maximum age for holding office, they must be approved by the Council through a vote, submitted to the competent business unit for review, and approved by the registration management authority for civil society organizations of the Federation before assuming office.
Article 27 The term of office for the President, Vice Presidents, and Secretary-General is five years, with a maximum of two consecutive terms. If, due to special circumstances, an extension of the term is necessary, it must be approved by more than two-thirds (2/3) of the member representatives present at the Representative Assembly, submitted to the competent business unit for review, and approved by the registration management authority for civil society of the Federation before the extension can take effect.
Article 28 The President of the Federation is the legal representative of the Federation.
In special circumstances, and with the President’s authorization, the legal representative may be a Vice President or the Secretary-General, provided this is approved by the Council, submitted to the competent business unit for review, and approved by the registration management authority for civil society of the Federation. The Secretary-General hired or publicly recruited cannot serve as the legal representative of the Federation.
The legal representative of the Federation is responsible for signing important documents on behalf of the Federation.
The legal representative of the Federation may not concurrently serve as the legal representative of other organizations.
Article 29 The President of the Federation exercises the following powers:
1. Convening and chairing over the Council, the Executive Council, and the President’s Office meetings;
2. Supervising the implementation of resolutions made by the Member Representative Assembly, the Council, and the Executive Council.
The Federation shall establish a President’s Office, which exercises the following powers:
1. Implementing the resolutions of the Member Representative Assembly, the Council, and the Executive Council;
2. Supervising the implementation of the Federation’s regulations, annual work plans, and annual budget;
3. Proposing agenda items for discussion by the Council or Executive Council.
The President’s Office consists of the President, Vice Presidents, and the Secretary-General. The President determines when to convene the President’s Office meetings. The meeting can only be held if more than two-thirds (2/3) of the members are present. The resolutions of the meeting shall take effect only if approved by more than two-thirds (2/3) of the attendees.
Article 30 The Secretary-General of the Federation exercises the following powers:
1. Chairing over the daily work of the administrative offices, organizing and formulating the mid-term and short-term work plans, and implementation the annual work plan;
2. Coordinating the work of all affiliated institutions;
3. Nominating the Vice Secretary-General and the key leaders of affiliated institutions, for decision by the Council or Executive Council;
4. Deciding on the hiring of full-time staff for affiliated institutions;
5. Organizing the implementation of resolutions made by the Member Representative Assembly, Council, and Executive Council;
6. Handle other daily affairs.
Article 31 The Federation shall have one Supervisor, with a term of office that is the same as that of the Directors. The Supervisor may be re-elected upon the expiration of their term.
The Federation accepts and supports the supervision and guidance of the appointed Supervisor.
Article 32 Election and Removal of the Supervisor:
1. The Supervisor shall be elected by the Representative Assembly of Members;
2. The removal of the Supervisor shall follow the same procedure as their election.
Article 33 The leaders of the Federation, directors, executive directors, and financial management personnel may not concurrently serve as Supervisors.
Article 34 The Supervisor exercises the following powers:
1. Attending meetings of the Council and the Executive Council, and raising inquiries or suggestions on resolutions;
2. Supervising the actions of the directors, executive directors, and leaders in performing their duties on behalf of the Federation, and proposing the removal of those who seriously violate the Charter of the Federation or the resolutions of the Representative Assembly;
3. Reviewing the Federation’s financial reports, reporting on the work to the Representative Assembly, and proposing suggestions;
4. Requiring the persons in charge, directors, executive directors, and financial management personnel to promptly correct any actions that harm the interests of the Federation;
5. Reporting any issues in the Federation’s work to the business directorial authority, the social organization registration management authority, and tax and accounting departments;
6. Deciding on other matters that should be reviewed by the Supervisor.
Article 35 The Supervisor shall comply with relevant laws, regulations, and the Charter of Federation, and faithfully and diligently perform their duties.
Article 36 The Supervisor may investigate the activities of the Federation. If necessary, they may hire accounting firms or other professionals to assist in their work. The costs necessary for the Supervisor to exercise their powers shall be borne by the Federation.
Chapter V Management and Use of Assets
Article 37 The sources of revenue for the Federation:
1. Membership charges;
2. Donations;
3. Government grants;
4. Income derived from implementation of activities and provision of services within the approved business scope;
5. Interests;
6. Other legal revenue.
Article 38 The Federation collects membership charges in accordance with relevant national regulations and the measures on membership charges approved by the Member Representative Assembly.
Article 39 The funds of the Federation must be used for the business scope as stipulated herein and the business development, which shall not be distributed to the members.
Article 40 The Federation establishes its federal financial management system in accordance with relevant national regulations to ensure legal, reliable, accurate, and complete accounting information.
Article 41 The Federation recruits professionally qualified accountants who shall not act as cashiers at the same time. Accountants shall take charge of financial accounting and accounting supervision. In the event of job transfer or resignation, he or she shall be responsible to complete the handover procedures.
Article 42 The Federation has a financial management system prescribed by China for asset management. The asset management shall be supervised by the Member Representative Assembly and the financial department. Any asset from social donations or grants must be supervised by the audit organ and appropriate disclosure shall be made available to the public.
Article 43 Financial audit must be implemented before the term of the Federation is renewed or the legal representative is changed.
Article 44 The assets of the Federation shall not be appropriated, privatized, or misappropriated by any unit or individual.
Article 45 The remuneration package of full-time staff will be calculated in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.
Chapter VI Amendment Procedures for the Constitution
Article 46 Any amendment to this Constitution shall be reviewed, voted, and passed by the Member Representative Assembly after being reviewed by the Council.
Article 47 Any amendment to this Constitution shall be submitted to the competent business unit for review within 15 days after being passed by the Member Representative Assembly, and upon consent of the parties, it will take effect after being submitted to and approved by the registration management authority.
Chapter VII Disposal of Property on Termination
Article 48 The Council or the Executive Council shall make a termination motion when the Federation needs to be deregistered once it has fulfilled its purpose, or it dissolves on its own or for the purpose of splitting or combining with another organization.
Article 49 The termination motion of the Federation shall be voted on and passed by the Member Representative Assembly and submitted to the competent business unit for review and approval.
Article 50 Before the Federation is terminated, a liquidation organization must be established under the guidance of the competent business unit to settle claims and other tasks. During the liquidation, no activities other than the liquidation will be carried out.
Article 51 The Federation will be terminated after the registration management authority for civil society organizations has completed the deregistration procedures.
Article 52 The remaining property after the Federation is terminated shall be used for business development related to the purpose of the Federation under the supervision of the competent business unit and the registration management authority in accordance with relevant national regulations.
Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions
Article 53 This Constitution was voted and passed on the First Meeting of the Second Member Representative Assembly on December 5, 2023.
Article 54 Only the Council of the Federation can exercise the power to construe and interpret this Constitution.
Article 55 This Constitution will take effect from the date of being approved by the registration management authority for civil society organizations.